Sunken-ship indicating and safety device



J. ARDO AND 0. PHILLIPS. SUIIIKEN SHIP INDICATING AND SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I5, 1921.

' Patented July 19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Josapn A2 no OSCAR HILLIPS J. ARDO AND 0. PHILLIPS.

SUNKEN SHIP INDICATJNG AND SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATKON FILED MAR. 15, 1921.

1,384,736. Patented July 19, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

dosEPn Azoo 051mg PI'HLLIPS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUNKEN-SHIP INDICATIN AND SAFETY DEVICE.

Application filed March 15, 1921.

To all whom it may cancel a Be it known that we, Josnrn Anne and Oscar. PHILLIPS, citizens of the United States, residing at Newhall, in the county of McDowell and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sunken Ship Indicating and Safety Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to' a device for indicating the location of sunken ships which is adapted to be carried by the ship and remain on the surface of the water above the ship if the latter sinks.

The, invention has for an object to provide an improved and novel form of device of this sort which will give an audible signal lasting for some time, in addition to the visual signal, and which may serve in emergency as a life boat to shelter the ships crew.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, referencewill be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Figure 1. of the drawings is a plan view-of a device embodying the invention, a portion of the casing being broken away to show certain of the interior parts.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal axial section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a ship showing the same provided with a series of the devices.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

As here shown our improved device comprises a cylindrical casing 10 having conical ends 11, this casing forming a float. Within this casing is carried a drum on which is wound a rope which is attached to the deck of the ship, this drum occupying the central portion, longitudinally considered of the casing.

The drum comprises a pair of disks 12 having hubs 12' through which passes freely a shaft 13 extending axially of the casing 10 from end to end thereof, the shaft forming the core of the drum, the drum being shown as inclosed by a sleeve 15 spaced inwardly a slight distance from the wall of the casing and secured at opposite ends thereto. To this shaft 13 is fixed one end of a rope 16 which is connected at its opposite end t the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1921.

Serial No. 452,485.

hull or deck of the ship, the latter being indicated generally at 17, the rope passing outward through a bushing 18 extending between the sleeve 15 and adjacent wall of the casing 10. As shown in Fig. 5 the rope 16 has a universal joint connection with the hull of the ship to permit of free movement of the float 10. This universal joint connection comprises a forked member 20 fixed to the hull 17 and having rotatable therein a barrel 21 which is apertured to receive freely the lower section of a jointed link 22, each section whereof is connected by a universal joint 23.

Spaced a short distance from the ends of the sleeve 15 are a pair of transverse partitions 25 which separate the ends of the casing into chambers 26. In these chambers are located a pair of air compressors 27 of the rotary type which are adapted to be driven by the shaft 13 on which their rotors are mounted. These compressors are provided with air intake pipes 28 leading upwardly through the casing 10 and provided with the usual check valves, not shown. Fixed on the casing 10, and communicating with the chambers 26, are whistles 29 of any suitable type adapted for operation by compressed air.

The spaces 30 between the disks and the partitions are adapted for emergency use to receive the crew or passengers on the vessel, having entrance doors 31 formed therein, and to provide the maximum space possible the disks 12 are adapted to move in toward one another when the rope 16 is unwound. To this end a pair of coiled expansion springs 32 surround the shaft 13 and bear at opposite ends against the hubs 12 and collars 33 fixed on the shaft, these collars having cylindrical extensions 34 which project over the springs 32.

When the disks 12-have been moved toward the center of the float they may be locked against return movement by a series of spring pressed latches 35 carried by the sleeve 15, these latches being arranged to ride over the edges of the disks as the latter approach one another.

The manner of use and operation of our improved sunken ship indicating device is as follows: As indicated in Fig. 3 a number of these devices may be positioned on the deck of the ship, being arranged on suitable saddle supports and secured in any easily releasable manner. When the ship sinks the device remains on top of the water. As the ship sinks the shaft 13 is rotated by the rope 16 and operates the air compressors 27, compressing the air in I the compartments 26. The compressed air causes the whistles 29 to sound, and the same Will continue to sound for some time after the rope has ceased unwinding, thus giving an audible indication to neighboring vessels of the presence of the device. Before the ship sinks members of the crew may enter through the doors 31, the collapse of the drum ends 12 toward the center providing additional room forsuch persons.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows I 1'. A device of the kind described comprising a hollow float, a drum in said float, and a rope Wound on said drum and having its loose end adapted for attachment to a ship,

- a shaft forming part of said drum, an air compressor in the float adapted for opera,-

tion by said shaft, and a whistle on the said float.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a hollow float, a drum in said float, said drum having its ends movable toward one another, a rope wound on said drum and having its loose end adapted for attachment to a ship, and springs urging said drum ends toward one another.

3; A device of the kind described comprising a hollow float, a drum in said float, said drum having its ends movable toward one another, a rope wound on said drum and having its loose end adapted for attachment to a ship, and springs urging said drum ends toward one another, and latches adapted to been moved by the said. springs to positions adjacent one another. V

4:. A device of thekind described comprising a hollow float, a drum in said float, a shaft forming the core of said drum, a pair of disks slidable on said shaft and forming the drumyends, springs coiled around said shaft and bearing against said disks, a rope attached at one end to said shaftand having its opposite end'adapted for attachment to a shi' 7 5 A device of the kind described comprising a hollow float, a drum in said float, a

shaft forming the coreof said drum, a pair of disks slidable on said shaft and forming thedrum ends, springs coiled around sald shaft and bearing against said disks, a rope attached atone end to saidv shaft and having its opposite-end adapted for attachment to a;

ments, and whistles communicating with said compartments; 7

6; A device of the kind described comprising a hollow float, a drum, in said float, a

shaft forming the core of said drum, a pair of disks slidable on said shaft and forming the drum ends, springs coiled aroundfsaid shaft and bearing against said disks, a rope attached at one end .to said shaft and having its opposite end adapted for attachment toa ship, and universal joint means whereby said rope is connected to the ship.

In testimony whereof We have aflixed our signatures.

- JOSEPH ARDO.

OSCAR PHILLIPS. 

